Mogadishu,Sunatimes.com On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the independence of Somalia, President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed proclaimed this momentous occasion as "time for reflection on the fate of Somalia."

It was midnight June 26, 1960 when the northern regions of Somalia (currently known as Somaliland) gained its independence from Great Britain. Five days later, on July 1st 1960, the southern part of Somalia achieved independence from Italy and the two Somali regions united and formed the Somali Republic.

In a speech commemorating this great occasion, President Ahmed said "Despite all the challenges that we now face, the rebirth of independent sovereign Somali state as envisioned by the heroes of our independence is within our reach". Therefore, it is incumbent upon the Transitional Federal Government and the Somali people "to seriously intensify their efforts in order to bring about reconciliation and sustainable security, and pave the way for economic progress," added President Ahmed.

The President called on every Somali citizen wherever he or she maybe "to raise the Somali flag in their houses, cars, and offices so that the enemies of Somalia would know the love for our country and our people is still alive."

The President paid tribute to champions of the independence. "The heroes who sacrificed everything in order to make us free had less resources and less education than many of us; and more importantly, they faced a far more formidable adversaries then we are today. They prevailed as a result of their vision, sincerity, and persistence. May God bless their souls for the freedom that they have won for our nation."

Speaking of the political quagmire of the past three decades, the President said, "Whether by way of commission or omission, the Somali people are squarely responsible of the unprecedented predicament that our nation is in and it is up to us to right the wrongs of the past, otherwise we could perish as a nation".

The President concluded by saying: "The road for genuine independence is through self-reliance, selflessness, national unity and focus on the common good by every citizen and by way of transparency and accountability by the government."

Source: Sunatimes.com